AUBURN, Alabama -- They lack experience
and they don't have the impressive production that builds much
confidence or leads credence to a jaw-dropping season in 2013.

But Auburn's receivers simply have not
been given the chance to shine -- many spent the 2012 season as a
backup or altogether handcuffed in a pro-style offense stricken by a
rotating door at quarterback.

This spring was their chance to shine
in first-year coach Gus Malzahn's offense, which seemingly produces
at least one go-to, breakout receiver every season.

"Somebody," said offensive
coordinator Rhett Lashlee, "one, two, three of those guys have
got to step up and decide they want to be elite SEC receivers.
They've got the talent, they're heading in the right direction."

The list of candidates is long, but fluid.

"They got much better, night and
day," Lashlee said. "They're not there yet. We've got a
long way to go. That's not coachspeak. That's the truth."

Junior Jaylon Denson appears to be the
only receiver who locked up a starting spot following the Tigers'
A-Day spring game. It's no surprise that coaches also consider him to
be the Tigers' most consistent receiver.

"Fans didn't see it, but he made
probably the catch of the spring for a touchdown in the second
scrimmage," Lashlee said.

Sophomore Ricardo Louis, praised by
teammates last year for his ability to get open deep down the field
as a vertical threat, caught only three passes for 36 yards in 2012.
He bounced back with yet another impressive spring, splitting time
with the Orange and Blue teams in the A-Day game to lead the way with
eight catches for 66 yards. He had the second-longest catch of the
game (31 yards) also had three runs for 14 yards, including a long of
seven yards.

"Getting him the ball and getting
him touches is a thing that you'd like to do," Lashlee said.

Louis, along with Quan Bray, appear to
be the most versatile receivers -- whether as a threat in the passing
game or as a motion man in the running game in sweeps. Trovon Reed
also caught three passes for 24 yards and one touchdown.

"Some of us are new to the
offense, like me," Louis said. "We learn. It took a couple
months to learn it and now we're getting the chemistry."

Receivers could be seen directing each
other on the field in an effort to line up in the precise position
before the snap during the A-Day scrimmage. Players said
communication was an issue at times as they fought through the
growing pains of the hurry-up, no-huddle offense.

"Well, there's a lot of
communication that goes in, not only from the sideline, but with each
other and throughout the spring we've improved," Malzahn said.

Hitting the next level of production --
an elite receiver -- is the next step for a group with no one
producing more than 122 yards in 2012.

"We're not there yet. We've got to
get some guys who raise their level even much more than they think
they can," Lashlee said. "That's our job. That's what
coaching is, is taking players to a place they can't reach on their
own. So that's what we're going to try to do."